Latest news with #EmmaMcKeon
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Emma McKeon and other Aussie olympic greats left in angry silence
Emma McKeon was among the Aussie Olympic legends who were left visibly dismayed by a speech by Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. The athletes had gathered at Parliament House in Canberra to see 121 members of Australia's 1980 Olympic team finally get formally welcomed home. They were denied such a welcome after they defied calls to boycott the Moscow Games due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. While Anthony Albanese's speech praising the team was warmly received, Ley's effort appeared to have the opposite effect. Though she acknowledged the athletes in the chamber and said they should not have been subject to personal attacks, she also gave credit to those who abided by the boycott including sprinter Raelene Boyle and swimmer Tracey Wickham. 'For many Afghan Australians who emigrated here and are now part of our Australian family ... this boycott mattered,' she told the House of Representatives. 'The decision made by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser to support the US-led boycott was the right one - and history has judged it so. That decision - correct as it was - takes nothing away from the Australians who did compete.' The Olympians sitting in the public gallery greeted her words with stony faces, with some gasping during parts of the address. None applauded at its conclusion, and many of the team members told News Corp they were 'furious' over Ley's 'tone-deaf' remarks and accused her of politicising the event. Ron McKeon, the father of retired swimming superstar and Australia's most decorated Olympian, Emma, was one of the 1980 competitors. Emma said she had been inspired by her dad, also a swimmer, and wanted to attend Thursday's ceremony to belatedly honour his Olympic participation. 'Dad coached me growing up but never really spoke much about his Olympic experiences,' Emma McKeon said. 'I couldn't imagine going through that - not having the ongoing support of the country - it would have been a huge struggle. I'm so proud of him.' The boycott was the largest in Olympic history, with 45 countries pulling out of the Games as part of the long-running Cold War, leaving just 80 to compete. Though many countries, including the United States, Japan and West Germany took part in a full boycott, Australia supported the boycott in principle but allowed athletes to make up their own mind on whether to participate. Many of the young sports stars were angry at copping backlash for defying the government's stance, even while the then Liberal government continued to trade with the Soviet Union. After most Olympic Games, Australia has celebrated its triumphs and welcomed its athletes back with open arms. Albanese acknowledged their participation and their pain in his speech. 'When you choose to wear the green and gold, you should draw strength from knowing that the whole nation is with you,' he told parliament. 'Yet the returning athletes were met only by cold silence or cruel comments. Today, we fix that... you have earned your place in the history of the game and our nation.' Decathlete Peter Hadfield was subjected to death threats and being spat on after he chose to compete in Moscow. He had previously won the Australian championship in 1976 but was not selected for that year's Olympics in Montreal. 'When the boycott was called in 1980, it looked like I was going to miss out on my second Olympics in a row,' he said. 'I was offered a bribe of almost my entire yearly salary not to go. There was death threats, we were called 'traitors' in the media, family members were spat on.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Emma McKeon and other Aussie Olympic legends were stunned into angry silence at Parliament House on what was supposed to be a joyful occasion. Here's why...
Emma McKeon was among a long list of Aussie Olympic legends who were left visibly dismayed by a speech by Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. The athletes had gathered to see 121 members of Australia's Olympic team finally get formally welcomed home after they defied calls to boycott the 1980 Games despite immense public pressure following the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. While Anthony Albanese 's speech praising the team was warmly received, but Ley's effort had the opposite effect. Though she acknowledged the athletes in the chamber and said they should not have been subject to personal attacks, she also gave credit to those who abided by the boycott including sprinter Raelene Boyle and swimmer Tracey Wickham. 'For many Afghan Australians who immigrated here and are now part of our Australian family ... this boycott mattered,' she told the House of Representatives. 'The decision made by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser to support the US-led boycott was the right one - and history has judged it so. 'That decision - correct as it was - takes nothing away from the Australians who did compete.' The Olympians sitting in the public gallery greeted her words with stony faces, with some gasping during parts of the address. None applauded at its conclusion, and many of the team members told News Corp they were 'furious' over Ley's 'tone-deaf' remarks and accused her of politicising the event. Ron McKeon, the father of retired swimming superstar and Australia's most decorated Olympian, Emma, was one of the 1980 competitors. He and his family used the opportunity to celebrate his achievements as a source of inspiration for their own Olympic journeys. 'Dad coached me growing up but never really spoke much about his Olympic experiences,' Emma McKeon said. 'I couldn't imagine going through that - not having the ongoing support of the country - it would have been a huge struggle. 'I'm so proud of him.' The boycott was the largest in Olympic history, with just 80 countries competing in the Games after they were snubbed by 45. Though many countries, including the United States, Japan and West Germany took part in a full boycott, Australia opted to support the action but allowed athletes to make the final call over whether they would participate. Yet many of the young sports stars felt they had been forced to cop the backlash from Australia's protest, while Malcolm Fraser's Liberal government continued to trade with the Soviet Union. After most Olympic Games, Australia has celebrated its triumphs and welcomed its athletes with open arms. Albanese acknowledged their participation and their pain in his speech. 'When you choose to wear the green and gold, you should draw strength from knowing that the whole nation is with you,' he told parliament. 'Yet the returning athletes were met only by cold silence or cruel comments. 'Today, we fix that... you have earned your place in the history of the game and our nation.' Peter Hadfield was subjected to death threats and being spat on after he chose to represent Australia in Moscow. He had previously won the Australian championship in 1976 but was not selected for that year's Olympics in Montreal. 'When the boycott was called in 1980, it looked like I was going to miss out on my second Olympics in a row,' he said. 'I was offered a bribe of almost my entire yearly salary not to go. 'There was death threats, we were called 'traitors' in the media, family members were spat on.' Michelle Ford was just 17 when she won one of Australia's two gold medals at the Moscow Olympics. 'We were told to sneak out of the country in case of threats on our team, on our lives - it's quite hard for a teenager to take that,' the former swimmer told AAP.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Defiant Olympians honoured decades after Moscow boycott
Top sporting stars who competed in the 1980 Olympics in the face of intense pressure to boycott will be honoured in the nation's capital. About 50 members of the 1980 Australian Olympic team will be recognised by the prime minister and opposition leader in Parliament House on Wednesday, more than four decades after defying public pressure and taking part on the controversial Moscow Games. Contemporary athletes including triple Olympic champion Jessica Fox and Australia's most decorated Olympian Emma McKeon will also attend, with the latter supporting her father Ron McKeon, who swam in the Moscow event. The boycott, which was the largest in Olympic history, was a protest against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in the late 1970s. Though many countries, including the United States, Japan and West Germany took part in a full boycott, Australia opted to support the action but allowed athletes to make the final call over whether they would participate. Many faced intense pressure from the government and commentators to snub the games, and only 121 out of the 204 possible athletes ended up attending. The Australian Olympic team's website states it was a "sad time, with the onus on young athletes to do the dirty work of politicians". Those in attendance did not march behind Australia's national flag in the opening ceremony, with athletics competitor Denise Boyd and swimmer Max Metzker instead carrying the Olympic flag. Australia won nine medals in Moscow: two gold, two silver and five bronze. In total, more than 45 countries boycotted the games while 80 competed.
France 24
6 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
New-look Australia focused on LA 2028 at swimming worlds
The Australians won seven swimming golds at the Paris Olympics but several big names have since retired or are skipping this year's world championships, which begin Sunday. That has opened the door for 10 debutants and Pallister, who made her Olympic bow in Paris, urged them to make the most of the experience. "I think it's important for those on the team this year to really soak in the moment and do their best," said the 23-year-old. "I don't really think it's about the medal table, I think in three years' time is the bigger picture." Australia's most successful Olympian, Emma McKeon, has hung up her goggles as have other stalwarts including Mitch Larkin, Brianna Throssell and Jenna Strauch. Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus -- who lost her 400m freestyle world record to Canadian Summer McIntosh last month -- is on an extended break. Eleven of Australia's squad in Singapore are aged 20 or under. Veteran Cameron McEvoy, who is appearing at his seventh world championship, said the Australians were a team in transition. "Things come and go, things change, you have to build up from time to time, you can't be constantly at the top and only at the top," said the 31-year-old, the 50m freestyle Olympic champion. "We have the most rookies on our team that I've seen across my whole time, which is exciting too." At just 16, Sienna Toohey came from nowhere to qualify for the 50m and 100m breaststroke. Australia also have high hopes for fellow newcomers Hannah Fredericks (200m backstroke) and Ben Goedemans (800m freestyle), while Ella Ramsay, 21, will contest four events. "A lot of them are very young, they've got a lot of years ahead of them," said McEvoy. "Starting that three years out from the Olympics instead of, say, 2027, one year out, goes a long way too." © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New-look Australia focused on LA 2028 at swimming worlds
Lani Pallister on Saturday urged her young Australian team-mates to "soak in the moment" at swimming's world championships in Singapore with one eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Australians won seven swimming golds at the Paris Olympics but several big names have since retired or are skipping this year's world championships, which begin Sunday. That has opened the door for 10 debutants and Pallister, who made her Olympic bow in Paris, urged them to make the most of the experience. "I think it's important for those on the team this year to really soak in the moment and do their best," said the 23-year-old. "I don't really think it's about the medal table, I think in three years' time is the bigger picture." Australia's most successful Olympian, Emma McKeon, has hung up her goggles as have other stalwarts including Mitch Larkin, Brianna Throssell and Jenna Strauch. Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus -- who lost her 400m freestyle world record to Canadian Summer McIntosh last month -- is on an extended break. Eleven of Australia's squad in Singapore are aged 20 or under. Veteran Cameron McEvoy, who is appearing at his seventh world championship, said the Australians were a team in transition. "Things come and go, things change, you have to build up from time to time, you can't be constantly at the top and only at the top," said the 31-year-old, the 50m freestyle Olympic champion. "We have the most rookies on our team that I've seen across my whole time, which is exciting too." At just 16, Sienna Toohey came from nowhere to qualify for the 50m and 100m breaststroke. Australia also have high hopes for fellow newcomers Hannah Fredericks (200m backstroke) and Ben Goedemans (800m freestyle), while Ella Ramsay, 21, will contest four events. "A lot of them are very young, they've got a lot of years ahead of them," said McEvoy. "Starting that three years out from the Olympics instead of, say, 2027, one year out, goes a long way too." amk/pst
